A Sad Day For Ned: Huckerby Retires

My favorite player EVER

Recently there have been a lot of rumors that Norwich legend Darren Huckerby was to return to the club at the end of the current MLS season. Booted out of the club by the disgraceful Glenn Roedent last year, Huckerby joined the San Jose Earthquakes to avoid playing against his beloved Norwich again. A sign of loyalty not lost on the Norwich fans who absolutely adore the former winger.

Unfortunately now it appears that Huckerby’s playing career is over. The winger has had a terrible injury plagued season that ended with an operation on his hip this week.  A hip that has been plaguing him on and off for several years.

“The last few months have been difficult for me. I’ve been trying to play and been severely hindered and now we know why. It was pretty severe surgery that I had. I’ve got to give it chance to see how it is but I’m 99percent sure that I am done.”- Darren Huckerby.

Huckerby played 203 times for Norwich scoring 48 times. He will always be remembered by City fans as the catalyst in the 2003/04 team that won the last ever Division 1 title and gained promotion to the Premier League.

Huckerby’s exit from the club and ill treatment at the hands of Roeder was well publicized last year, the winger was not even granted the chance to say goodbye to the fans as the poisonous manager appeared to have a problem with Huckerby being the most popular man in the City.

After Norwich, Darren joined MLS side San Jose Earthquakes and immediately had a positive effect on the team, scoring 6 times from the left flank. In his first year with San Jose he was named ‘Newcomer of the year’ by MLS. This season has been stop-start, ending with the operation that has called time on his career.

“I’ve taken a lot of hits over the years. Even in my time at Norwich two or three men marked me most games, all of them taking pot shots at me all the time. When we were in the Premier League I think I was the most fouled player in the league. All that takes its toll on you.”- Huckerby

It’s not all doom and gloom though. Huckerby has always said he wanted to come back to Norwich City after retirement and that’s what he is expected to do. Darren lives in the City and is the most popular player to have been at Norwich for many years, possibly ever.

“I want to come back to Norwich City in some sort of capacity. There is always the pull of wanting to come back and play for Norwich but I have got to do myself justice and do the fans justice. At nearly 34 with a smashed-up hip I don’t think that I could do that. The club will always come first and I’d never do anything to jeopardise the club. I spoke to some of the lads and they say that League One is not the greatest standard and that they think I could do very, very well in it but I’ve got nothing to gain. I love Norwich City, I really do. I really have got a passion for the club and I’ve got a passion to make the club better and I’ve got a passion to make the young boys better.”  – Huckerby.

I think it’s pretty clear that Norwich fans will seeing a lot of Huckerby in the coming years, probably in a coaching capacity. He bleeds yellow and green and will surely have an incredible impact on the young kids that will look up to him as one of the greatest players to play for the club. Huckerby retires having also played for Lincoln City, Newcastle United, Leeds United, Coventry City, Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and the San Jose Earthquakes in a career that spanned 16 years.

Always entertaining, Darren Huckerby had an eye for spectacular goals…

Making mince meat of the Man U defence at 2 mins 20 secs in. This piece is from Premier League World and features a review of his career.

My favorite, versus Birmingham City. 

Huckerby scores against the Galaxy last season.
 
Still hungry for more? Click here for a good compilation.

As one door closes another opens and at 33 Huckerby has had a super career and scored some very special goals. He will always be remembered as a player who excited the crowds. Whenever he got the ball, people sat up and paid attention.

Thanks for the memories Hucks.